Orioles, Jesus Montero Agree To Minor League Deal

The Orioles have agreed to a minor league contract with first baseman Jesus Montero, reports Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports (via Twitter). Montero, formerly one of the top prospects in all of baseball, will open the season in the midst of a 50-game suspension, which he received in September (as a member of the Blue Jays organization) after testing positive for a banned stimulant (dimethylbutylamine).

Now 27 years old, Montero rated as the No. 3 prospect in the game according to both Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus prior to the 2011 season. However, his defense behind the plate was long somewhat of a question mark, and he’s moved to first base since that time in part due to his large frame (6’3″, 235 pounds). Montero’s bat was always supposed to be his ticket to regular work in the Majors, but he underwhelmed in parts of four seasons with Seattle after being traded from the Yankees to the Mariners in the 2011 Michael Pineda deal. In those four years with the M’s, Montero batted a lackluster .247/.285/.383 in the Majors. He’s continued to hit well at the Triple-A level (.305/.357/.491 career), but at this point his best chance at making the Orioles’ roster upon completion of his suspension is as a right-handed-hitting bench bat that can spend some time at DH and occasionally spell Chris Davis at first base.

That sounds like a joke, and I have no idea what’s in slim fast, but certainly people have used stimulants to lose weight, and plants of “diet pills” contain stimulants. In fact that’s mostly what they are.

y’all need to research. He didn’t “juiced”. He took an over the counter supplement. Not illegal steroids. Over the counter. unfortunately it contain a very specific unnaproved ingredient that hasn’t even been considered illegal. just “harmful”. Wish him good luck!

Unapproved by baseball means illegal basically. I dont have tons of sympathy for a veteran who knows these things have caused issue before with others. I’d be running these supplements by the league and have the permission notorized.

That’s you. An educated American with English as a first language. He’s a kid with little English desperate to lose weight thinking he didn’t do anything illegal. So easy to judge. Arrogance is free I see…

What makes you assume that I’m an educated American or that he’s a kid? He’s a professional baseball player…and unless he’s been living under a rock…he’s had to have seen “supplements” causing trouble in drug screens. Perhaps I feel feel more highly of his intellect and street smart awareness. At this point ignorance isn’t an excuse. Players are counciled on this. 50 games and the notoriety wouldn’t be worth it to a professional baseball player at this point….and thats what he is. I dont care if you’re a suburban rooted 2b in the Angels system…or you’ve been playing half a dozen years in professional baseball and you came from a poor latin family…..at this point you have no excuse besides willful rule breaking or willful ignorance.

Arrogance? No…just a desire to see the game played fairly without unreasonable excuses made. You say he wants to lose weight? Great…pick the phone up and call the team and league and verify what substances are clear. To me the arrogance lays with someone that wants to pass him off as just a poor uneducated latino. Im atleast giving him credit for what should be expected regardless of race.